Moto X 2013 begins receiving Android 5.1 update from Verizon

The Moto X 2013 is now getting its Android 5.1 update from Verizon following a brief soak test. The update brings a number of feature additions to the original Moto X, including a patch for the Stagefright exploit. Additionally, there are a number of UI improvements, new interruption controls, notification volume control access and more.

If you have not yet received the notification update, you can check manually for the update. To check, head into your Settings, down to About phone and check for the update. Have you already received the update? Be sure to let us know in the comments below how it is working out for you.

Reader comments

Moto X 2013 begins receiving Android 5.1 update from Verizon

Seriously disappointed. I had to click on the link to this article 3x before finally connecting. That about sums up my experience with the update so far. I cannot link to pages, or it's slow. It took so long to log onto my bank app that it timed out. Forget YouTube, most of the time the videos and clips just refresh over and over. I tried clearing the cache on all apps, but it's still slow and undependable. I like the addition of the flashlight and the battery life seems the same. It asks me to "say something" when I'm in the middle of Googling or a video...annoying.

Totally destroyed the phone. Assist always thinks i'm driving (I have it set to vibrate for meetings, read text aloud when driving. - now it not only rings, it reads text messages aloud DURING meetings - embarassing and ridiculous) and because it thinks i'm driving, every time i pick up the phone the freaking "Android" green screen for programming comes up and i have to click through several times before i can reach the home page. i've tried a dozen guaranteed "fixes" and nothing stops it, still thinks i'm driving at my desk. the Hangouts has stopped working error screen also blocks everything (Hangouts is disabled). update installed Google Hindi and Pinyin (believe me, i didn't want it) and wants daily updates. I had to delete half my apps becausethe update filled up the phone. i have 32updates pending that there isn't room for. getting a new phone, can't stand it.

First major complaint is battery life & recharge time. My battery lasted 6.5 hours today. That's only checking the time at work every few hours. It estimated my recharge time would be 22 hours to 100%. I had to uninstall some apps just to drop the charge time. I eventually powered off my phone and let it recharge that way.

Apps no longer completely download. An app can hit 75% downloaded in a few seconds, and then it stops downloading and makes my phone lag. I had to power down & power up 10 time already today because that was the only way I could finish downloading my app updates.

I've had massive lag issues since I plugged in my phone. I'm surprised I made it this far typing it out online on my Moto X. I've even had the System UI freeze on me.

I can no longer send text messages, I only receive them. Facebook messages and notifications are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

Updated my Moto X 2013 last night/today from Kit Kat to Lollipop. I couldn't get my phone to do a thing this morning without being slow, so I cleared the cache and the speed improved greatly, and my Play Store updated! Now I can't get it to update any apps or open my email.. but we are progressing!

You guys are only on 5.1? And on the Moto X 2013? Glad I have a Nexus phone so I'm one of the first to get Android updates including 5.1.1 and Marshmallow directly from Google, cutting out the carrier in the process.

I like it so far. It's smooth and not at all laggy, and full of Lollipop goodness. Battery was good this morning, but somehow it burned a lot of juice with the screen off and "Meetings" mode on while I was teaching all afternoon. i love the improved Moto (Assist) features, but I'm still going to have to use Tasker for some of it. Problem for me is that as far as I can tell it uses the same Downtime/Interruptions settings for Meeting Mode and Sleep mode, and i need them to be different. I use Meeting mode when I am teaching or in a rehearsal, and i cannot have any notifications/messages/calls at all during those times. But for Sleep, I do want to receive calls from whitelisted contacts.

Despite some minor lockscreen issues I am quite happy with this upgrade. Battery life is right on par with Kitkat and the phone seems a lot smoother in general. I think another person mentioned that it feels like a new phone and I agree. Seeing that 4.7" phones are becoming obsolete or they get inferior hardware compared to larger phones I will be holding onto this until a smaller phone comes out with stock android experience. Patience is key.

I agree. After a reboot and letting things settle for a couple of hours (it was NASTY at first), I'm impressed with how smooth it is. I'll refrain from judging battery life for a few days but my initial impressions are all positive.

Well done. I plan on upgrading at Christmas but I'm almost tempted to wait until the 4th iteration. I won't wait, but I could if I had to.

Well, after about 6 hours of use on lollipop, I am really liking the update. I am actually glad that Motorola and Verizon waited to get it right. I I replaced the battery on this phone about a month ago and now with lollipop, it's just like I bought a brand new phone. I've always thought that the original Moto X was one of the best phones ever made, and now with a new battery and lollipop I still believe that 2 years into my ownership of this phone. I would love to say I'm going to keep this phone for at least another year, but I have a sinking feeling that the new LG Nexus and marshmallow are going to have a very strong pull on me.

Just started playing with it and it's beautiful. Only animation with any lag is swiping left to get to Google Now in my launcher. Can't tell on battery life yet, but I feel that this phone got a new lease on life for the next several months until I upgrade.

No it's not possible (unless you want to root and unlock bootloader) and I guarantee you that you won't see any improvements, but most likely some problems. Best case scenario, your battery will get slightly worse.
If you are happy with how your phone works now, don't bother taking chances.

Yep, from my Moto X 2014 - update on Verizon ruined it, so I can't imagine how will it affect 2013. Luckily my OG X is rooted and unlocked so I'm still running KK and have 0 complaints.
Diminished battery (after less than a year) made me upgrade to 2014 model and it was the fastest Android ever. That update (accidentally pressed on that stupid message), made me sell it and buy another one from BB which all are on KK. Since I never got used to the size and feel, not I'm back with OG X and about to sell the "new" one.

I installed the first update this morning, and have the notification that the second update is available. Probably wait until I get home to do it. I'm planning to upgrade when my contract is up in November, but hey, better late than never and it'll be good to have Lollipop for a couple of months.

I gave up waiting and battery couldn't get me through 4 hrs anymore, or 3 with moderate use. Got n6 when Amazon deal hit 10 days ago. Couldn't go back now... Happy for all that have waited forever and a day!

I did a manual update check (from Settings > About phone > System Updates) and the second part is downloading now. It's a 712MB download, and I guess VZW is being hit pretty hard right now, because it's taking forever.

Well, so far so good. Update is applied, and everything is all materially and buttery smooth. The only thing that's left is the Play Services update, and to see how the battery performs once things have fully gelled.

Well, several hours in and I'm fairly impressed. Battery is no worse for sure, performance is stellar, flashlight and hotspot toggles are welcome additions, and I can now say "hey stupid" instead of "OK GOOGLE NOW™". Life is good!

I'm past my upgrade date, and was close to pulling the trigger on a shiny new MX Pure, but now I think I'll stick with my OG for the foreseeable future. Time to celebrate and buy a new case!